Architecture
IFS architectural grade, powder coatings are factory applied, performance coatings designed specifically with architectural applications in mind.
Suitable for use on aluminum and steel, for both interior and exterior applications (like curtain wall, windows, fences, railings, etc.), the IFS architectural powder range offers excellent durability, good chemical resistance and mechanical performance, and is an excellent alternative to liquid PVDF and anodized finishes, with a significantly improved sustainability footprint.
Architectural Powder Products
IFS 500FP
- Superior performance FEVE Fluoropolymer powders
- Meet and exceed the performance requirements of AAMA 2605
- Come with a 20 year color and gloss warranty*
- Used on exterior applications like curtain wall, windows etc.
- Available with a manufacturers EPD
IFS 400SD
- High performance Super Durable Polyester powders
- Meet and exceed the performance requirements of AAMA 2604
- Come with a 10 year color and gloss warranty*
- Used on exterior applications like commercial storefront, low rise curtain/window wall, windows etc.
- Available with a manufacturers EPD
IFS 300SP
- Standard Polyester powders
- Meet and exceed the performance requirements of AAMA 2603
- Perfect for most interior applications
- Available with a manufacturers EPD.
Architectural Coating Performance – AAMA Specifications
The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), which was previously known as AAMA (American Architectural Manufacturers Association) sets the standards for coating performance on architectural applications.
The performance specifications are still known as the AAMA specs. There are three AAMA coating specs. Each spec requires a certain number of chemical, mechanical and weathering tests to be completed and lays out the test method – many of them ASTM tests - and minimum performance requirements for each. Some of the key tests are highlighted below:
|
AAMA 2603 |
AAMA 2604 |
AAMA 2605 |
Humidity resistance |
1500 hrs. Few blisters |
3000 hrs. Blisters size 8 |
4000hrs Blisters size 8 |
Salt spray resistance |
1000 hrs. 1-2mm creepage Blisters size 8 |
1500 hrs. 1-2mm creepage Blisters size 8 |
2000 hrs. aggressive cyclical 1-2mm creepage Blisters size 8 |
Florida Exposure |
1 year |
5 years |
10 years |
Color retention |
“Slight change” |
Delta E <5 |
Delta E <5 |
Gloss retention |
“Slight change” |
Minimum 30% |
Minimum 50% |
IFS Product |
IFS 300SP |
IFS 400SD |
IFS 500FP |
For more information on the AAMA coating specs, testing, and product performance, please contact your IFS architectural rep.
Environmental Product Declarations
IFS has manufacturers EPDs for each of our architectural grade powders.
Get our EPDs in English
Decorate – thousands of architectural colors and effects
Powders that perform AND look good. IFS architectural grade powders come in:
- Thousands of colors
- RALs
- Metallic/Mica effects
- Textures
- Varying gloss levels
- Custom color matching/creation
- Check out our IFS architectural color card
- Check out our RAL card
Please request free sample panels and/or color cards rather than choosing color online - they're much nicer in person (especially the sparkles, textures, effects etc.!).
Specification wording
Download and copy/paste our powder specification language. Choose from a three part 050513 spec, or if you prefer just the finishing language to cut and paste into other parts of your project spec, choose the simple spec wording.
If the spec wording outlined here doesn't work for your specific spec, contact us and we will work with you to make sure you have the right wording.
- 3 part spec (050513)
- Simple specification wording for aluminum
- Simple specification wording for steel
AIA Approved Lunch and Learns
Learn more about sustainable, performance powder for architectural applications. Choose from our 2 AIA approved presentations:
- Sustainable Performance Coatings: Powder for Architectural Applications (1 AIA LU, 1 GBCI credit)
- Sustainable Coatings Without Compromising on Performance (1 HSW LU)
To organize your companies FREE presentation, contact us at coatingsinfo@ifscoatings.com
Architectural powder Ebook
Check out our free architectural ebook and learn everything you need to know about using and specifying performance powder for architectural applications.
Contact us for details or to speak to an architectural specialist.
*When applied by Registered Applicators to architectural aluminum.
At IFS we are rightfully proud of our architectural product range. We offer 3 different product types, all available in thousands of colors and effects. It’s no coincidence that there are three AAMA coatings specifications and three IFS architectural powder grades. Our architectural grade, performance powders are formulated to meet and exceed the performance requirements of the AAMA specifications. What's more, each of them comes with a manufacturers Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to contribute to LEED points and other sustainability initiatives. Our interior grade products also come with HPDs. Make the environmentally responsible choice without compromising on performance. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us or talk to your local representative.
IFS 500FP
Backed by years of test data and a wealth of experience, IFS 500FP is a genuine 100% FEVE resin based, superior performance, Fluoropolymer powder coating suitable for high end architectural applications. To give you a liquid comparison, it delivers the same or better performance than a 70% PVDF liquid coating. It meets and exceeds the performance requirements of the tough AAMA 2605 requirements and will meet and exceed your expectations. While protection is key, ensuring your design vision is fulfilled is a top priority, so IFS 500FP is available in a range of colors, metallic sparkles, textures and effects. We appreciate that ensuring the integrity of the architectural design is essential, so excellent IFS warranties, up to 20 years, are available. IFS 500FP is the ideal superior performance powder coating for high value residential, commercial and monumental applications.
IFS 400SD
IFS 400SD is a highly developed, high performance super durable powder coating that provides extended exterior durability coverage. It meets and exceeds the performance requirements of AAMA 2604 and IFS 400SD is the perfect super durable powder coating to safeguard aluminum and steel. IFS 400SD is used on both residential and commercial applications including windows, doors, storefront and curtain wall. A wide choice of colors, metallics, textures and special effects complete the IFS 400SD offering along with a choice of 5 or 10 year warranties.
IFS 300SP
Perfect for all interior and some lower value exterior architectural applications, IFS 300SP powder meets and exceeds the performance requirements of the AAMA 2603 specification. Available in a huge range of colors and effects, IFS 300SP offers an ideal entry level architectural powder coating.
For more information check out the IFS Architectural Brochure - your guide to all things architectural powder. All the downloadable resources you need in one spot - check out our Architectural Resources Page.
You can also save our free architectural ebook and dip in and out of the world of high performance powder coatings whenever you need to!
Specifying architectural grade, performance powder coatings couldn't be easier. Whether it's our simple cut and paste spec wording, product info, test data, warranty information, color matching or coating advice, we can help you.
Specification wording
Download and copy/paste the simple spec wording for architectural grade, performance powder coatings using the buttons below. If the spec wording outlined here doesn't work for your specific spec, contact us and we will work with you to make sure you have the right wording.
Simple specification wording for aluminum
Simple specification wording for steel
Specifying the right grade product
"Powder Coating" can be a very generic label. We don't put the same powder coating on refrigerators as we do on the exterior of a building and give it a 20 year warranty! Make sure you choose the right type of powder coating for your application. The basics are below, they link to more info, or contact us for help with your exact application.
IFS Product Exterior? Typical Applications Product type AAMA Warranty
IFS 500FP Exterior Curtain wall, windows, doors Fluoropolymer 2605 20 yrs*
IFS 400SD Exterior Storefront, windows Super Durable 2604 10 yrs*
IFS 300SP Interior All interior applications Standard Polyester 2603 N/A
*When applied to architectural aluminum by a registered applicator
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
Each of the IFS architectural grade performance powder coatings come with a manufacturers EPD for third party verification in achieving your sustainability goals. Our interior grade products also come with Health Product Declarations (HPDs). Excellent long term exterior performance, excellent warranties, excellent color choice, significantly improved environmental footprint.
Contact us for our current EPDs
Download our ebook for more info and tips
Check out our free ebook and learn more about the different types of architectural grade powder, powder for steel, specifying powder, powder for interiors and much more.
All the downloadable resources you need in one spot - check out our Architectural Resources Page.
What types of buildings benefit from high performance powder coating?
The simple answer is – any building! Architectural grade, performance powder is used on metal parts of many types of buildings all over the world. The list includes:
- Individual housing
- Condominiums
- Mixed use
- Retail
- Office
- Skyscrapers
- Hospitals
- Stadiums
- Government buildings
- Malls
Check out just a few of the thousands of projects that benefit from IFS high performance architectural powder protection in our projects section.
Where can I use powder on architectural projects?
Powder is best suited to metal substrates. In the architectural world this usually means aluminum or steel. The powder process is also best suited to extrusion coatings. Curtain wall, windows, facade elements, panels, storefront, interiors - the list goes on. Coil applications are not currently powder coated in the US. Exterior parts benefit from the full protection of architectural grade, performance powder coatings.
The list goes on and on, but here are just some areas that are perfect for powder:
- Windows
- Doors
- Skylights
- Storefront
- Curtain wall
- Mullions
- Extrusions
- Fencing
- Hardware
- Ceiling grids
- Partitions
- Furniture
- Room trim
- Accessories
- Racking & shelving
- Lighting
- Partitions
Architectural Powder Colors and Effects
As well as technical performance, at IFS Coatings we understand ensuring the decorative properties of architectural projects is essential. With this in mind, we offer an extensive range of architectural powder colors and special effects for both interior and exterior architectural applications. Go to our architectural colors page here. See some of our RAL colors here. Learn about free custom color matching here. We have over 76,000 colors in our database! We can't put them all online, so contact us to ask for free sample panels in the colors you're looking for.
Traditional architectural colors such as grey, silver, bronze, black, white and beige and warm earthy tones, muted reds, greens and blues are all available and can be enjoyed as solid colors or with metallic sparkles added. Our metallic range features platinum, silver and champagne shades and our anodized effect colors are available in silvers, blue, bronze and gold shades. From matte to high gloss we can adjust the gloss of your coating, so whether it’s a flat black or a high gloss green simply let us know what you need. What’s more, sometimes super smooth just won’t do. There are a range of textures available to add a tactile dimension and an interesting look to your powder coating,
Our architectural color card features 26 colors including solid shades, metallics and even anodized effect powders. However remember colors, and especially metallics, do not look the same online. Contact us to order your copy of our architectural card - it features real powder coated chips so you see exactly what the coating looks like.
Custom powder colors
For both exterior and interior architectural powders, we know your project may need its own specific color palette. So we will work with you to make sure that the colors and effects are exactly what you need. Whether you want to match your shade to something else in your design, take a standard color and tweak it slightly, or you're simply looking to make a more environmentally responsible choice and want a powder version of a liquid coating, we are happy to help. Effects such as metallic and textures can also be added to any color. Talk to us about our custom color making capabilities.
With any coating, powder or liquid, there are some limitations on what is achievable at the higher levels of exterior durability. Quite simply, the pigments for some shades (for example, bright red) that will offer the durability required for these specifications, are not available. However there is a vast range of colors that are available and will meet the exterior durability demands all the way up to the AAMA 2605 specification. Similarly, not all gloss levels or metallic effects can be achieved at an AAMA 2605 level. Talk to your IFS architectural advisor for advice.
All the downloadable resources you need in one spot - check out our Architectural Resources Page.